Stephanie Worlton is an author, designer, gabber, and sugar addict! She was raised in the suburbs of Salt Lake City where she developed a passion for the creation of space, color, and design. Her love of design drove her to pursue a degree in architecture. Her love of family pulled her home to be a mom.She enjoys hanging out with her family, reading, writing, making massive project lists, doing remodeling and building projects, playing in the dirt, and snuggling with her dogs. She collects power tools, camera equipment, shoes (though barefoot is always best!), and books.

Ali Cross, the award-winning author of the Desolation Series, has always had a flare for the dramatic. As a child she organized backyard performances of classic plays and musicals and hosted tea parties for invisible friends and pets dressed in doll clothes. Her teens were a haze of boys, drama (of the real life variety), and music. So it really didn’t come as a surprise to anyone that the girl her family called a dreamer, ended up writing drama—with angels, demons, and other supernatural creatures thrown in for fun.

After university, Ali traveled from the Great White North to the Utah desert for love and now entertains her devoted husband, almost-grown twin sons and adorable yorkies with her wacky song renditions and random movie lines. As the only female in the house she considers this her right and her duty.

Never one to conform to expectations, Ali enjoys writing in multiple genres:

Ali Cross books for young adult paranormal romance; Ali Banks Cross books for middle grade adventures; and Ali M. Cross for inspirational romance. She promises to entertain you no matter which of her books you pick up.

TARA C. ALLREDAward-winning Author

I had lots of imaginary friends when I was five years old, and I guess you could say some of those friends never left me. In fact along the way, I picked up some more imaginary friends who have had lots to say.

I love watching stories unfold. And some of those stories seem worth sharing with you.

So, I have written a few books. And have several more in the works.

Meanwhile, some of my books have won some awards. And even more importantly, my books have made friends with some wonderful and supportive readers. I absolutely love it when a reader connects with one of my stories.

Stacy Lynn Carroll has always loved telling stories. She started out at Utah State University where she pursued a degree in English, learned how to western swing, and watched as many of her fellow students became ‘True Aggies’. She then finished her BA at the University of Utah where she got an emphasis in creative writing.

After college she worked as an administrative assistant, where she continued to write stories for the amusement of her co-workers. When her first daughter was born, and with the encouragement of a fortune cookie, she quit her job and became a full-time mommy and writer.

Eight books and four small kids later, Stacy has truly learned the necessary skills of balance and time management. Dr. Pepper and chocolate also help. She and her husband live in Utah with their four children and three dogs. Bear Lake is her favorite place to write.

He was right—her hair was dark. Nearly black, actually. She was white, but there was a slight warmth to her skin and with her coal-dark eyes, straight black hair and long, straight nose, he was pretty sure she might be part Native American. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

“You guys can hang your coats up there,” the petite girl said, pointing to the coat rack by the door. “Your timing is perfect. We were just getting started.”

“Glad to see you made it to your destination safely,” Bent said, offering the girl what he hoped would be a kind smile. There was something about her, something wild but skittish. He’d never been around horses or anything, but she made him think of wild horses. Curious, but scared, too. “I’m Bentley. But everyone calls me Bent.”

“I’m—”

“Mel. I remember. Is that short for Melanie?”

She shrugged and threw him a coy glance. “Call me Mel. But why do you go by Bent?”

Bent chuckled. “I’m Bentley Brown.” He leaned over the couch that stood between them and offered his hand. “And yes, I’m named after the car.”

She shook his hand. He liked the press of her small, warm palm against his and he was disappointed when she broke the contact.

“I like Bentleys.”

Oh, she could flirt, could she? Bent took off his coat and hung it up without taking his eyes off Mel. “Mel suits you. It’s tough. Like you.”

She laughed and looked down, shaking her head. “Oh, I’m anything but tough.”

He looked at her sideways. “You sure about that?”

Q&A With Ali M. Cross:

1. Describe yourself in 50 words or less.

Quirky and fun (or dorky and lame, but I’m going with “quirky and fun”). Sun worshipper, happiness enthusiast, believer in hope and magic. Devoted mom to twin 18yo sons and two adorable yorkies, and happy wife to the love of my life.

2. What do you love most in the world?

God and my family.

3. What inspired you to become an Author?

Stories that moved me and inspired me. I wanted to be a part of that.

4. What is your favorite Winter / Holiday tradition?

My favorite Christmas tradition is we have a little basket we set on the mantel along with some yarn strips to represent “hay”. For every good turn during the holiday season (from Thanksgiving to Christmas), we each fill the basket or “creche” with yarn until by Christmas Eve, we have a nice soft bed ready for Jesus. Before we go to sleep, we gather around and sing “Silent Night.” I’ll put out the porcelain Jesus in his bed, then on Christmas morning, before we open presents, we’ll sing “Oh Come, All Ye Faithful”. Helps us to slow down a little bit and remember the “reason for the season.”

5. What is your trick for getting past writer’s block? And what advice do you have for other authors who are struggling to tell their story?

My trick is to keep on writing! I’ll literally write “blah blah blah” or just free write–in my MS–until the words pick up the story again. OR, I’ll jump ahead to a part of the story I DO feel inspired to write. If neither of those tactics work, then I’ll for a walk, or do something else that fills my creative well. My best advice is to not be overly hard on yourself if the words won’t flow…but also to give yourself a chance to open that spigot by sitting down and writing ANY words, even if they aren’t the right ones.

6. Now that we’ve gotten to know each other, tell me a story. It can be long or short. From your childhood or last week. Funny, sad, or somewhere in between. Just make sure it’s yours. What’s your story?

My parents divorced when I was four years old. I remember one Christmas Eve when Daddy was coming to see me, AND I was singing a solo in the Christmas Eve mass that night. I wanted my mom and dad to come hear me sing as I’d never done a solo before and even my mom had never heard me. I think I was about ten. I sang “O Come, O Come, Emanuel”, and I remember how, standing in the choir box, my voice carried across the cathedral and the elegance of the procession beneath me. It was a powerful moment in my little life. A real “core memory”. I discovered my sister had come to hear me, but no one else. We rushed home because Dad was there–only to find that he had come and gone. He hadn’t wanted to hear me sing, or to even stay and see me. Everyone else got to see him except for me. And Mom was crying. It was another core memory. These two extremes on one night had a powerful impact on me. Now, I try very hard to always let my sons know that they are loved and that what’s important to them is important to me. That night was bittersweet for sure, but it hasn’t dulled my love for Christmas, only reminded me that I have the power now to help it shine–for myself and my family.

Holly
knew the romantic helicopter ride up to the remote peak of Whisky
Mountain was a bad idea. But she never expected it to snatch her
fiancé from her—or destroy her life. A few fiery seconds turn a
postcard-perfect morning in the Canadian Rockies into a snowy hell,
thirteen thousand feet above sea level. And in the midst of grief and
agony, Holly catches sight of a scene in the ice that will haunt her
until she can return and discover the truth.

Oliver
Nelson could see the stranger had a mystery inside her. The scars on
her face, the pain in her eyes, the insistence that he teach her
completely alone—no one needsto
learn rock climbing, or so he thought. But the more he gets to know
her, the more he admires her drive, her ingenuity, and that little
edge of recklessness. If she can trust him with her story, he’s
ready to follow her wherever her heart takes her.

But
nature’s deadly beauty isn’t the only danger waiting for them on
Whisky Mountain. To survive, Oliver and Holly will have to move
fast—and think faster . . .

In
a place where a city can be lost hundreds of years . . . they can
still find each other.

Lily
saw the temple of Agulinta on television: a vast stone structure
swallowed by the Yucatan jungle, rediscovered only now after hundreds
of years. So why did the papers she found after her father’s death
show the same mysterious carvings that puzzled archaeologists at
Agulinta? Her search for answers pulls her to Mexico’s southern
border, where the journey to the lost temple will take her through
jungle and mountain, over waters home to crocodiles and drug runners,
and into uncomfortably close quarters with a man whose need to wander
has become a way of life . . .

Australian
Carter Logan’s work as a nature photographer has given him the
excuse he needs to roam wherever his restless feet take him. But in
all the time he’s traveled, he’s never been drawn to anyone the
way he is to this determined, cagey young American. Lily’s
perseverance through dirt, sweat, and danger to the heart of the
ancient temple fires through him. But when the two of them are left
alone and stranded in a vicious wilderness, their connection might
prove the difference between life and death . . . if the secrets of
the past don’t come between them first.

Kendall
Talbot is the author of the Maximum Exposure series, and many
other action/adventure stories. A thrill seeker, hopeless romantic,
and award-winning author of stories that’ll have your heart
thumping from action-packed suspense, she
lives in Brisbane, Australia with her very own hero and a fluffy
little dog who specializes in hijacking her writing time. Meanwhile,
Kendall’s two sons are off making their own adventures—look out
world

Mary’s family has moved into a huge Victorian mansion. She loves her gigantic new house, especially her room. But then she begins to meet the house’s other residents.

Mrs. Murray was murdered in Mary’s new house. At first she tries to scare the new residents away, but there seems to be a force connecting the ghost to Mary.

Even the stranded Brownies, the little people who live between the walls, feel that connection. When Mary becomes deathly ill, the Brownies and the ghost team up to try to rescue her, only to encounter a witch and her evil minions. Time is running out. They must rescue Mary from a fever-induced dream world before she is trapped there forever.

Emily-Jane Hills Orford is an award-winning author of several books, including Gerlinda (CFA 2016) which received an Honorable Mention in the 2016 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, To Be a Duke (CFA 2014) which was named Finalist and Silver Medalist in the 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and received an Honorable Mention in the 2015 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards. She writes about the extra-ordinary in life and her books, short stories, and articles are receiving considerable attention. For more information on the author, check out her website at: http://emilyjanebooks.ca

There is a street called Piccadilly in
London, England. In fact, there is a place, an intersection, known as
Piccadilly Circus. But it is questionable as to whether or not there are any
major intersections along the famous Piccadilly Street that have residential
houses of some distinction on all four corners, and there is definitely no
intersection of Piccadilly Street and Waterloo Street. When I last visited
London, England, I was disappointed to note that there wasn’t even a Waterloo
Street, just a Waterloo Road, and that was on the other side of the river from
Piccadilly Street. So, the intersection of Piccadilly Street and Waterloo
Street could only occur in the other London, the one in which Mary grew up.
Indeed, the number of her childhood home, had it existed in London, England,
could only exist in the middle of the intersection of Piccadilly Street and
Regent Street.

There
are other cities in the world that bear the auspicious name of London. But only
the one in Canada has an intersection of Piccadilly Street and Waterloo Street
with an old Victorian mansion on each of the four corners. One, in particular,
is a grand Queen Anne style, early twentieth-century building complete with a
tower room, a bay window, stained glass windows, mosaic tiled floors and much
more. A family moved in to take up residence in 1967. Mary’s family. It was
also at this house that others took up residence many years earlier and never
left. One died and left her restless spirit to roam the halls and torment those
who chose to reside in the house. The other two were little sprites known as
Brownies. They lived inside the walls and watched over the house that they also
called home.

You see, the Brownies had a mission, something that was going to
involve one of the new residents of this old house: a twelve-year-old girl by
the name of Mary. This is, in fact, Mary’s story, or, at least, the beginning
of her story. For there is much more to Mary’s story than this little tale.

Meg
Buchanan is determined to prove she didn’t get the trainer job in
Redmond, Oregon’s rookie smokejumper class because of her family’s
long history as firefighters there—or out of pity. But if teaching
one of her own brothers isn’t challenging enough, Lance Roberts is
in the new class of recruits. Once her brother’s best friend, and
her first, unrequited crush, he’s also the son of the man
responsible for her dad’s death.

Lance is stunned to
realize that this confident redhead is the stubborn girl he once
dreamed about. There’s no way he can fall for her now. He needs to
focus all his attention on his training—and discovering the truth
about the long-ago fire that killed both of their fathers. But as the
undeniable heat between them threatens to ignite, someone attempts to
put an end to Lance’s amateur sleuthing—and his life…

Award-winning
author and RITA® finalist Marnee Blake used to
teach high school students but these days she only has to wrangle her
own children. Originally from a small town in Western Pennsylvania,
she now battles traffic in southern New Jersey where she lives with
her hero husband and their happily-ever-after: two very energetic
boys. When she isn’t writing, she can be found refereeing disputes
between her children, cooking up something sweet, or hiding from
encroaching dust bunnies with a book.

This
revised edition celebrates the 10th anniversary of the author’s
first published novel.

When you lose a
loved one, whether it’s a relative, friend, or precious pet, you
wonder where that special soul has gone and if you will ever see him
or her again. For Dulcie Mills, Long Island computer programmer, the
answer may lie between a virtual world and the real one, between the
past and the present, between dreams and reality.

Unable to get over
her fiancee’s death and facing the impending loss of her
15-year-old cat, Dulcie escapes to a virtual world. When Dulcie’s
best friend accepts a job from a clairvoyant who offers predictions
regarding Dulcie’s dead fiancée and Dulcie becomes attracted to an
online stranger, history begins to repeat itself in ways that are
both promising and terrifying. What Dulcie discovers through a
virtual séance may mean the only chance she has left for love or
death itself.

Addressing topics of
reincarnation and soul transfer in similar ways as Greg Iles’ Sleep
No More and Nora Roberts’ Midnight Bayou, Cloudy
Rainbow features an interesting mix of technology and the
paranormal and will also appeal to cat lovers.

My
name is Debbie De Louise. I am a reference librarian at a public
library on Long Island and the award-winning author of the Cobble
Cove mystery series. I have a B.A. in English and an MLS in Library
Science.

My first novel, a paranormal romance, “Cloudy
Rainbow” (Booklocker 2008) received an honorable mention in the
Writer’s Digest self-published awards. I wrote that book after my
beloved cat, Floppy, died from diabetic and liver complications. The
book is dedicated to him, and he is featured as a character in
it.

My second novel, the first book of the Cobble Cove Mystery
series, “A Stone’s Throw,” (November 2015) was published by
Limitless Publishing, LLC. It is the story of a widowed librarian who
visits her husband’s hometown and finds a new love with the town’s
newspaper publisher but also discovers some alarming truths about her
husband’s death and its connection to the publisher and his family.
Along with a variety of characters, there is also a cat and dog who
play minor but interesting roles in the novel. The second Cobble Cove
Mystery, “Between a Rock and a Hard Place” was released in
October 2016 by Solstice Publishing and a reprint of “A Stone’s
Throw” with an additional chapter was published in March, 2017.
The third book of the series, “Written in Stone,” was
released in April, 2017. I’ve also published a romantic comedy
novella, “When Jack Trumps Ace.”

I’m currently
working on a standalone mystery, Reason to Die, and have several
other writing projects planned for 2018 including a new cozy mystery
series along with the fourth volume of the Cobble Cove
mysteries.

I’m a member of International Thriller Writers,
Sisters-in-Crime, the Cat Writer’s Association, and Long Island
Authors Group and have published articles in Cats Magazine and Catnip
(Tufts University Veterinary Newsletter). I won the Glamour Puss
special award from Hartz Corporation for my Catster.com article,
“Brushing your cat for bonding, beauty, and better health,”
(June, 2016). My short mystery, “Stitches in Time” was
published in the Cat Crimes Through Time Anthology, (1999). I have
also published several other short stories of various genres in
Solstice anthologies. I live on Long Island with my husband,
daughter, and our cat, Stripey.

Mary’s family has moved into a huge Victorian mansion. She loves her gigantic new house, especially her room. But then she begins to meet the house’s other residents.

Mrs. Murray was murdered in Mary’s new house. At first she tries to scare the new residents away, but there seems to be a force connecting the ghost to Mary.

Even the stranded Brownies, the little people who live between the walls, feel that connection. When Mary becomes deathly ill, the Brownies and the ghost team up to try to rescue her, only to encounter a witch and her evil minions. Time is running out. They must rescue Mary from a fever-induced dream world before she is trapped there forever.

Emily-Jane Hills Orford is an award-winning author of several books, including Gerlinda (CFA 2016) which received an Honorable Mention in the 2016 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, To Be a Duke (CFA 2014) which was named Finalist and Silver Medalist in the 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and received an Honorable Mention in the 2015 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards. She writes about the extra-ordinary in life and her books, short stories, and articles are receiving considerable attention. For more information on the author, check out her website at: http://emilyjanebooks.ca

“Brùnaidh an Easain! It’s time you started living up to your name,” Peallaidh exclaimed.

“What?” Brùnaidh moaned. “You mean waterfall? And where am I to be finding a waterfall in this cursed place?”

“Sure and weren’t you just bursting water pipes this winter past?” Peallaidh chortled.

“That would make a bonny waterfall.”

“Aye, and a wet basement besides, with gads of giant folks traipsing through our domain to try and fix and clean the mess,” Brùnaidh pointed out. “Now why would I be wanting to do that? Besides,” he paced the small space between the wall and the outer brickwork, his feet barely touching the floor as he walked. “I think this family may be our key. The little lass needs watching.”

“The one they call Mary?” Peallaidh queried. “I can’t see how she can help. She’s but a hen, and a wee one at that.”

“But a whole lot bigger than you and I put together,” Brùnaidh noted. “After all, we’re Brownies and, magic or not, there’s only so much we can do.”

Emily-Jane Hills Orford is an award-winning author of several books, including Gerlinda (CFA 2016) which received an Honorable Mention in the 2016 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, To Be a Duke (CFA 2014) which was named Finalist and Silver Medalist in the 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and received an Honorable Mention in the 2015 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards. She writes about the extra-ordinary in life and her books, short stories, and articles are receiving considerable attention. For more information on the author, check out her website at: http://emilyjanebooks.ca

There are so many possibilities that affect the course of history. One change, one small item overlooked, can make a world of difference, not only in a person’s life, but in the history and well-being of an entire nation. And then there are those multiple scenarios of what if?

What if King James VI of Scotland didn’t succeed in amalgamating Scotland with England? What if there had been another heir to the throne of Scotland? One who would secure its independence? Would Scotland have remained free and independent and a nation of its own well into the twenty-first century? And would Scotland, this independent version, make its own decision to join the European Union when its southern neighbor was choosing to pull away?

“Queen Mary’s Daughter” presents another plausible timeline, one that incorporates both historical fact and fiction with the endless possibilities of time travel.

As the wind picked up, blowing her deep red, unruly curls helter-skelter over her face, Mary Elizabeth’s eyes focused on her hands. She stretched out the left hand, revealing the old ring that sat on her baby finger. It was a tiny ring and it only fit on the one finger. At the same time Gran bestowed the heirloom gift on her granddaughter, she had shared her story of the ring, at least as much as she was willing to share. The ring had been in the family for generations and only the firstborn daughter of the firstborn daughter (and so on and so on) could wear it. The ring was her connection to a past she wasn’t sure she believed in, a past that had been shared from one generation to the next. Or was there more? Was there a story her grandmother never managed to share?

What would she find at Loch Leven Castle? The clues had to be there. But the boy said it was mostly ruins, crumbled walls and tumbled stones, except for the tower. Queen Mary’s tower. What could she possibly unearth to collaborate Gran’s story? And she only had two weeks to do it. She couldn’t afford more time away from work. Even though it was a poorly paid entry level job, she didn’t want to risk losing it.

A glow emanated from the ring on her outstretched hand. She felt a warmth spread up her arms. The wind picked up, violently tossing her hair in every direction, swishing her coat ends like laundry hanging loosely on a clothesline. She faced into the wind, allowing its vicious impact to draw her forward. She took a step, then another, until she felt the cold wet of the lapping waves of the loch splash over her feet. The water was cold; it jolted her back to reality. What was she doing walking into the loch? What was the strong pulse pulling her forward? She allowed her eyes to glance out across the loch, now almost obliterated by the darkened storm that raged all around her.

“Miss.” She heard a voice from behind her as the power continued to drag her into the loch. “Miss!” A hand gripped her arm, yanking her back toward the dry shore. “Miss!” The hands tightened their hold as she tried to pull away, tried to return to the loch. A scream pierced the air. She didn’t know where the scream originated. It sounded like it came from across the water.

When
I was younger, my mother saved my settlement from the Unblessed Dead
that would have killed us all. It cost her everything to reveal her
necromancy and sent shockwaves through our stringent religious
settlement. Convicted of heresy against our sacred Lost Texts, she
died soon after.

Since
then, I have worked hard to maintain my Pious Standing so that when I
turn eighteen I will be selected by a suitable husband at the Bridal
Auction.

As
the large clock in town square ticks down to my eighteenth birthday,
the dead have been appearing in my garden. If I’m discovered, I’ll
face the Necromancer Trial just as my mother, oldest sister, and I
did all those years ago. This time I fear I will not survive it.

To
add to my worries, an enigmatic handsome young man has arrived in the
settlement. Around him swirls a green aura only I can see. Is he here
to help me? Or does he have more nefarious plans?

According
to the Lost Texts, the sins of the mother are laid on the shoulders
of her female children

My
mother was a necromancer and the shadow of her conviction and death
blots out my hard work to be considered Pious Standing in the very
religious settlement where I live.

Though
I’ve been exonerated through the Necromancer Trial, there are those
who are convinced that I am a heretic, a devil-woman, someone who
should be exiled, or worse, killed. I have to escape and my only hope
is for Quade to win my hand at the Bridal Auction.

Rhiannon
Frater is the award-winning author of the As
the World Dieszombie
trilogy (Tor) as well as independent works such as The
Last Bastion of the Living (declared
the #1 Zombie Release of 2012 by Explorations Fantasy Blog and the #1
Zombie Novel of the Decade by B&N Book Blog). She was born
and raised in Texas where she currently resides with her husband and
furry children (a.k.a pets). She loves scary movies, sci-fi and
horror shows, playing video games, cooking, dyeing her hair weird
colors, and shopping for Betsey Johnson purses and shoes. She’s
the co-host of the ZCast, a Z Nation Fan Podcast.

Mike
Lewis boldly narrates his fantastical story and confesses his secret:
He sees horrifying visions of disturbing future events through a
kaleidoscope each time he closes his eyes. He’d like to live a normal
life, but an elusive threat prohibits him from doing that.Someone
wants to study his mystical ability and they’ll do whatever it takes
to further their strange, covert agenda.

The
Vision Chronicles eight-book thriller series is a slice-of-life
metaphysical/visionary story that details Mike’s changing ability as
he protects himself, his family, and his friends from those who
doggedly pursue him. If you love mind-boggling suspense with a dash
of paranormal and a touch of romance, this is the series for you!

Award-winning
author, Chariss K. Walker, M.Msc., writes both fiction and nonfiction
books with a metaphysical and spiritual component. Her fiction
expresses a visionary/metaphysical message that illustrates growth in
a character’s consciousness while utilizing a paranormal aspect. Her
nonfiction books share insight, hope, and inspiration. Even though
Chariss writes dark-fiction about insanely dark topics, such as
sexual abuse, incest, pedophilia, sexual assault, and other
inappropriate dinner conversation, there is always an essential
question of the abstract nature that gives a reader increasing
awareness and perception. All of her books are sold worldwide in
eBook, paperback, and many are in large print.

Most
families have a favorite recipe or two, handed down through
generations. The Holloway women are a little different. Emma
Holloway, like her grandmother before her, bakes wishes into her
delicious cupcakes, granting the recipient comfort, sweet dreams, or
any number of good things. It’s a strange gift, but it brings only
happiness. Until gorgeous, smooth-talking newcomer Hunter Kane
strolls into her shop, Fairy Cakes—and Emma makes the mistake of
selling him not one, but three Sweet
Success cupcakes.

Hunter,
it turns out, is opening a fancy new restaurant and bakery right on
the waterfront—Emma’s competition. To make matters worse, the
town committee has decided to split the upcoming summer festival
contract between the two, forcing Emma to work with her nemesis. But
she can’t afford to split her profits. The solution: create a
recipe that will make Hunter leave town permanently.

The
Holloway charms are powerful. But there are other kinds of magic in
the world—like red-hot first kisses, secret glances, and the
feeling that comes with falling truly, madly, inconveniently

Tara
Sheets is an award-winning author of contemporary romance and women’s
fiction. Her debut novel, Don’t Call Me Cupcake, won the 2016 Golden
Heart® award sponsored by Romance Writers of America. Tara began her
career as an author in the Pacific Northwest, inspired by the rain
and the misty mountains and the rivers of Starbucks coffee. She now
lives in the warm, wonderful South where she can stand outside with
no coat on, and she finds that pretty inspiring too. When not
writing, Tara enjoys life with her book-loving family and a
book-eating dog named Merlin.

French
Privateer, CaptainDrago
Gamponetti is
given one final mission from his employer, the king of France:
reclaim religious relics from a New Orleans cathedral and bring them
back. Trouble begins when he’s forced by a mysterious, veiled,
novitiate nun to swear on the Bible to protect the very items he was
instructed to steal.

Worse,
60 British warships have amassed in Negril Bay, Jamaica, preparing to
attack New Orleans. He must retrieve the sacred relics before the
British arrive and seize the city.

Novitiate
nun and healer, Eva
Trudeau has
secrets, and hides more than her face behind the veil. The convent
has been her safe haven since she crawled, beaten and bloody, to its
door nine years ago. When an old enemy re-surfaces and threatens to
drag her back into the dark underworld from where she’d escaped,
both she and her dark pirate captain stand to lose everything they’ve
fought so hard to protect…including each other.

Either
commit treason or betray the woman he secretly loves. Betraying one
sends him to the guillotine, the other straight to hell.

This
series is about spirited, independent women and rakish bad boy
pirates, wrapped up in women’s action and adventure sea stories. If
you enjoy romantic action and adventure, action and action and
adventure romance fiction, historical romance or women’s fiction,
you’ll love the Pirates & Petticoats series.

~Award-Winning
Author~ Chloe Flowers writes historical women’s action and
adventure romance novels about scoundrels, pirates, and spunky,
independent heroines. She likes to challenge her characters by
tossing them the middle of actual historical events, or with real
historical characters.

Chloe
is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Northeast Ohio Romance
Writers and The Beau Monde Romance Writers group, where she serves as
secretary. In 2011, she formed the Sunshine Critique Group so that
she and other aspiring authors could motivate and challenge each
other to become better writers. Six members have been published. She
has given workshops and presentations on creating a critique group,
how to provide effective critiques, story structure, and
self-publishing lessons to writers groups, library patrons and
children. In 2014, she started her own small publishing company,
Flowers & Fullerton. Currently, she’s the publisher of record
for authors Sheridan Jeane, H.O. Knight as well as herself.

Whether
it’s dancing naked in a downpour at 3AM, zip-lining in a
rainforest, or racing ponies, Chloe’s always looking for the next
adventure. Her pets have always been named after favorite characters
or action heroes: Indiana, Luke, Gimli, Thelma, Rocket, Forrest, Al
Giordino, Severus, Mushu, Mérida, Gibbs, Jack…Dead Pool (he’s a
goldfish).

Chloe’s
biggest fault is her apparent inability to say “no” whether it’s
in response to a call for aid or a double-dog-dare to hike home
through 30 acres of a snow-covered forest at midnight…during a full
moon. It was early morning during said adventure when she came upon a
group of sheriff’s deputies searching for a lost girl. So, of
course she offered to help. Turns out, they were searching for
her.

In
addition to her addiction to adrenaline, she has a weakness for good
red wine, dark chocolate and brown-eyed guys with beards, which is
probably why she digs pirates and treasure hunters and writes about
action and adventure, pirates and romance (which is the greatest
adventure of all).

Fresh
out of high school and stalling on college, all Dorothea wants is a
little freedom. So when she’s offered the opportunity to move into
her late grandmother’s house in Black Cat Springs, she simply can’t
refuse the deal. Cheap rent and distance from her parents is exactly
what she’s always wanted…and a handsome new neighbor seals the
deal.

But
as soon as she moves in, she’s drawn to a mysterious fence in the
woods. Despite her better judgement and dark stories beyond, she
sneaks inside, learning that some things from her past are better
left contained…

A
twisted town with a mind-boggling past is about to become Dorothea’s
future. And one thing is certain–she cannot trust her instincts.

Carissa
Ann Lynch is the USA TODAY Bestselling and award winning author of
the Flocksdale Files trilogy, Horror High series, Dark Legends,
Searching for Sullivan, Things Only the Darkness Knows, Shattered
Time, 13, Grayson’s Ridge, and This Is Not About Love. She resides in
Floyds Knobs, Indiana.

When she’s not writing, she’s
reading and collecting books. She has a background in psychology and
corrections.

There are so many possibilities that affect the course of history. One change, one small item overlooked, can make a world of difference, not only in a person’s life, but in the history and well-being of an entire nation. And then there are those multiple scenarios of what if?

What if King James VI of Scotland didn’t succeed in amalgamating Scotland with England? What if there had been another heir to the throne of Scotland? One who would secure its independence? Would Scotland have remained free and independent and a nation of its own well into the twenty-first century? And would Scotland, this independent version, make its own decision to join the European Union when its southern neighbor was choosing to pull away?

“Queen Mary’s Daughter” presents another plausible timeline, one that incorporates both historical fact and fiction with the endless possibilities of time travel.

Emily-Jane Hills Orford is an award-winning author of several books, including Gerlinda (CFA 2016) which received an Honorable Mention in the 2016 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, To Be a Duke (CFA 2014) which was named Finalist and Silver Medalist in the 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and received an Honorable Mention in the 2015 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards. She writes about the extra-ordinary in life and her books, short stories, and articles are receiving considerable attention. For more information on the author, check out her website at: http://emilyjanebooks.ca

Someone
is strangling disabled people in the small town of Baxter,
Connecticut. Detective Courtney Lang and her ex-partner and ex-lover,
wheelchair-bound Bill Thompson, are paired up again and put in charge
of the investigation.

During
the search, Courtney uncovers information that points towards a
connection between the murders and an unsolved series of muggings by
a masked man, the same man who shot and disabled Bill a year ago on
the night he proposed marriage to her.

Complicating
matters for Courtney is her guilt about Thompson’s shooting, her
affair with her new partner, Mark Farrell, and her unresolved
feelings over the deaths of her mother and sister who perished in a
fire when she was away from home.

As
the deaths accrue and the “Handicapped Strangler” as the killer
is coined by the press continues to rampage the town adding victims
of different ages, sex and disabilities to the murder count, Courtney
discovers a clue that could crack open the case but may put her and
Bill’s life in jeopardy.

My
name is Debbie De Louise. I am a reference librarian at a public
library on Long Island and the award-winning author of the Cobble
Cove mystery series. I have a B.A. in English and an MLS in Library
Science.

My
first novel, a paranormal romance, “Cloudy Rainbow”
(Booklocker 2008) received an honorable mention in the Writer’s
Digest self-published awards. I wrote that book after my beloved cat,
Floppy, died from diabetic and liver complications. The book is
dedicated to him, and he is featured as a character in it. I have
recently signed with my publisher to reprint this book, and it will
soon be available as a paperback as well as an eBook.

My
second novel, the first book of the Cobble Cove Mystery series, “A
Stone’s Throw,” (November 2015) was published by Limitless
Publishing, LLC. It is the story of a widowed librarian who visits
her husband’s hometown and finds a new love with the town’s newspaper
publisher but also discovers some alarming truths about her husband’s
death and its connection to the publisher and his family. Along with
a variety of characters, there is also a cat and dog who play minor
but interesting roles in the novel. The second Cobble Cove Mystery,
“Between a Rock and a Hard Place” was released in October
2016 by Solstice Publishing and a reprint of “A Stone’s Throw”
with an additional chapter was published in March, 2017. The third
book of the series, “Written in Stone,” was released in
April, 2017. I’ve also published a romantic comedy novella, “When
Jack Trumps Ace.”

I’m
currently working on a standalone mystery, Reason to Die, and have
several other writing projects planned for 2018 including a new cozy
mystery series along with the fourth volume of the Cobble Cove
mysteries.

I’m
a member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters-in-Crime, the Cat
Writer’s Association, and Long Island Authors Group and have
published articles in Cats Magazine and Catnip (Tufts University
Veterinary Newsletter). I won the Glamour Puss special award from
Hartz Corporation for my Catster.com article, “Brushing your cat
for bonding, beauty, and better health,” (June, 2016). My short
mystery, “Stitches in Time” was published in the Cat Crimes
Through Time Anthology, (1999). I have also published several other
short stories of various genres in Solstice anthologies. I live on
Long Island with my husband, daughter, and our cat, Stripey.

Award
Winning author, R. L. Weeks, brings you Raven’s Sight – a Young Adult
Victorian Paranormal Mystery. Book One can be read as a standalone
and as part of the series.

Raven
looks out over the small, industrial town of Cogsworth and imagines a
life beyond the confines of her Grandmother’s mansion.

However,
Raven holds a dark secret that prevents her from leaving. One which
comes to light after her father’s untimely death. Now an orphan,
Raven must do her best to hide her gifts of sight if she’s to survive
the cruel Victorian society she lives in.

However,
when a ghost of a child comes to her for help, Raven finds herself in
the gas lit streets of London, on the trail of a female serial
killer. As she tries to solve the string of murders, she realizes
that the murders are almost identical to those from a case left
unsolved years before she was born.

In
a race against time, Raven is thrown into a world she doesn’t know.
With her crush, Tom, now a ghost, her friend, Emmett, now a suspect,
and an uncle who runs illicit groups and hates women, Raven will have
to unravel the mysteries quickly before she becomes their next
victim.

Grandmother paces around in a circle. “I have seen this happen before, and it

is happening again. We cannot have another Alice,” she says and stops in front

of me. She pushes me over to Nora. “We must not let her out the house. If

anyone finds out what she is…”

Nora nods, seeming to understand what I do not.

Who is this girl—I have forgotten her name already—that we cannot have

another of, and what am I?

R
L Weeks
is the bestselling and award-winning author of the Dead Loves Life
Series, Bloodlust, The Fallen, Willow Woods Academy for Witches,
Cursed, and the owner of Enchanted Anthologies, publisher of
Fractured Fairytales Books 1 & 2, A Deadly World: Vampires in
Paris, Things Only the Darkness Knows, and Christmas Nightmares.

She
lives in a small village in the UK.

When
she’s not writing, she’s traveling, reading (paranormal, fantasy and
horror being her go to genres) and designing covers for Dark Wish
Designs.

Country superstar Sara Silver has it all: fame, fortune, and a mantel full of Grammys. She also has a string of chart-topping heartbreak songs to go with them—all based on her miserable love life. Now her manager says Sara doesn’t sing with the soul she used to. If she doesn’t come up with another hit album soon, then her label will move on to the next big thing.

Sara heads to a ranch in Wyoming to get back to her country roots and rediscover herself. To keep the press away, she hides her identity and is determined to let nothing distract her. Then she meets Cal: tall, brooding, and all cowboy. Sara falls for Cal and the quiet ranch life, but with each song she writes her time there draws to a close.

Sara will have to choose between the country stars of Nashville or the glittering stars of a Wyoming sky…unless she can find a way to have both.

Lisa Swinton bio:

Award-Winning Author Lisa Swinton caught the romance bug early by way of fairy tales and hasn’t been able to cure it since. Instead, she feeds her addiction with romance novels and films. In between being a doctor’s wife and mother of two, she occasionally puts her B.A. in Musical Theater to good use via community theater and church choir. In her elusive spare time she enjoys researching her family tree and baking (especially with chocolate). She loves to travel, Jane Austen, and all things Italian. In her next life, she plans to be a professional organizer.

In a world gone to
hell, it’s hard to tell the good guys from the bad…

The world didn’t end in
fire and explosions, instead it collapsed slowly, like falling
dominoes, an intensifying panic of disease, food shortages, wild
weather and collapsing economies, until what remained of humanity
battles for survival in a harsh new reality.

Charity
uses lethal survival skills learned too early in her work as a
‘Hound, sniffing out pivotal secrets for one of the most powerful
people on the west coast. Her work is deceptive, deadly, and best
performed solo, which means when she has a run-in with a member of
the notorious Fate’s Vultures, she has no intention of joining forces
in some mockery of teamwork. The man might be sexy as hell, but she
travels alone. She will accomplish her mission and she will settle a
score – hopefully with the edge of her blade. But fate has other
plans.

As
one of Fate’s Vultures, a nomadic band of arbitrators known for
their ruthless verdicts, Ruin witnesses the carnage of corruption and
greed battering the remnants of humanity, and he bears the scars to
prove it. Now he has a damn ‘Hound showing up in suspicious
circumstances, leaving every cell of his body sceptical – and
painfully aroused. The woman is trouble, and Ruin has every intention
of steering clear. But when they realise they have a common enemy,
Charity and Ruin will have to set aside their distrust if they want
to achieve their mutual goal – justice and revenge.

Sometimes,
when the world’s gone to hell, it’s better to stick with the devil
you know…

The
world didn’t end in fire and explosions, instead it collapsed
slowly, like falling dominoes, an intensifying panic of disease, food
shortages, wild weather and collapsing economies, until what remains
of humanity battles for survival in a harsh new reality.

An
assassin by trade, a loner by nature, Mercy is sent to infiltrate the
Cartels and unmask the identity of their new silent partner. Instead,
she discovers a darker plan threatening to crumble the entire
Southwest and ends up with a hefty bounty on her head. Still, she’s
determined to stop the impending attack at any cost, even if it means
partnering up with a member of the notorious Fate’s Vultures.

After
enduring a brutal, blood-soaked lesson on the savagery of
civilisation’s scavengers, Havoc is well acquainted with the
consequences of battling predators. But as a member of the nomadic
band of arbitrators known as Fate’s Vultures, he’s determined to
cement the necessary alliances to oust the biggest threat looming on
the horizon. When an enigmatic woman crosses his path, her secrets
and troubling loyalty light the fuse on an unexpected craving and his
insatiable curiosity.

In
order to trap a common foe and derail an impending threat, Havoc and
Mercy must turn the tables to hunt a predator. Can an assassin and a
mercenary find their balance on the thin line of loyalty, or will it
snap under the weight of their wary hearts?

Jami
Gray is the coffee addicted, music junkie, Queen Nerd of her personal
Geek Squad, Alpha Mom of the Fur Minxes, and award winning author of
the Urban Fantasy series, The Kyn Kronicles, the Paranormal Romantic
Suspense series, PSY-IV Teams, and her latest Romantic Suspense
series, Fate’s Vultures. She writes to soothe the voices in her
head.

Athena
Hawthorne never imagined that she would lose everything she’d ever
had. But after the death of her father, his prosperous jewelry store
is sold off to pay his supposed debts. Athena, now destitute, embarks
on a mission to discover the truth, but circumstances force her to
accept an offer from a handsome stranger to work as a governess.
She’s determined to clear her father’s name, but a certain earl is
making matters far more difficult than necessary. And she can’t be in
danger of losing her heart to a member of the aristocracy…

Orion
Ashcroft, the Earl of Rockford, is convinced that Athena is a
grasping thief who stole a priceless family heirloom, the rare
sapphire known as the Couleur Magnifique. When he offers her the
position of governess to his sister’s children, he only intends to
catch her in some nefarious scheme and get back the sapphire-his
grandmother’s dying wish. But he soon discovers that keeping his
distance-and his sanity-around the beautiful Athena isn’t as easy
as he’d planned. It certainly doesn’t help that his sister and his
best friend plead her innocence at every frustrating turn. Soon he’s
struggling between honoring his promise and his growing attraction to
Athena.

But
there’s danger closer than either expect. Even a masquerade can’t
hide Athena from the curiosity of the ton forever…and there’s a
threat hiding among the highest members of society…

Torn
from the only man she’d ever loved by a tragic secret, Mara Miller
has traveled a long and difficult road. From poverty and the
workhouses, she’s finally made a life for herself as the owner of a
small haberdashery in London. With her companion, Big B, an African
slave she’d helped escape from a Brazilian slaver, she’s made a fresh
start. But when the past walks into her shop-in the form of the
ever-handsome Roarke Garrott, Viscount Eversleigh-Mara feels her
whole world crash to her feet. Thrust back into a web of lies,
deceit, and manipulation, Mara is forced to face the one man she’d
sworn to forget.

For
the past seven years, Roarke had sequestered himself in India to
mourn Mara’s death. Vowing to move on and put the past behind him, he
returns to London, only to find himself gazing into those beautiful
green eyes he believed he’d never see again. Now he’s found
her-aliveand
trying to deny who she was. A million feelings wash over him. Joy.
Fury. Heartbreak. He would have the truth from her-of where she’d
gone, and why-but when trouble from the past finds Mara and Big B,
the truth becomes secondary to saving Mara’s life. After just
learning that the woman he’d loved is alive, Roarke is not about to
lose her again…

An
innocent woman. A loyal agent to the Crown. A path of deception that
tests the bonds of love.

Lyra
Coventry, Lady Weston, has spent the past three years trapped in an
abusive and loveless marriage. But just when she believes she’s
free, she’s charged with the murder of her husband. With no one to
turn to for help, her judgment seems rather dire, until the Duke of
Albright comes forward to offer his aid. With no choice but to put
her trust in him, she doesn’t know that he has an ulterior motive
for helping her – to prove her guilty of treason. It isn’t until
the true villain comes to light that she discovers a strength she
never knew existed – and a love she never thought was possible.

Alister
Ayles, Duke of Albright, might be the subject of ton ridicule, but as
a highly respected agent for the Crown, he discovered a higher
purpose. However, when he’s faced with his toughest investigation
to date, he has to travel a difficult path. Years ago, he’d made a
mistake and let Lyra slip through his fingers. Now, he has a chance
to make it right by clearing her name. But when it comes down to a
test of loyalty, will he stand strong, or fall prey to his desires?

Tabetha
Waite is the award winning author of “Why the Earl is After the
Girl,” her debut novel and the first installment of her Ways of
Love series. Raised in Missouri by her paternal grandparents, she
always had a love of reading. Her early influences were the Gothic
romances of the 60s, the Janet Dailey Americana series, and “Midnight
Bride” by Kathleen Drymon. She continues to make her home in the
Midwest with her husband and two daughters.

We
have 8 novellas in our Winter 2017 Anthology, five of which are
EXCLUSIVE to the set. This unique collection will only be available
for 90 days – so be sure to get your copy while you can!

If
you love cozy contemporary tales, paranormal surprises, or magic
filled fantasy, you won’t be disappointed. The set tops out at over
200,000 words, but each is bite sized – just right for a car, train
or plane ride this holiday season.

Make
A Holiday Tradition: A Collection of Winter Tales your travel
companion this year!

The
set includes:

Samantha
Jacobey brings us Christmas
Eve
(Sweet Christmas, book 2). Read in order OR as a standalone – Life
isn’t always sweet, even for girls named Candy.

Rebekah
Dodson thrills us with a SET EXCLUSIVE in Room
331,
a college romance! In the bitter cold of winter term, romance abounds
that threatens to destroy best friends.

Desiree
L. Scott has a NEW suspense romance In the Vail Lodge Trilogy –Trapped
on Vail Mountain!
Read in series OR as a standalone – can Nina and Rob survive the
mountain when both nature and man are against them?

From
fantasy author Kevin J. Kessler, enjoy The
Winters of Alnora!
EXCLUSIVE to the set, this magical adventure will not be sold
individually until next year! A New Dark Angel shall be born, and the
world shall tremble at her feet.

L.A.
Remenicky adds a Fairfield Corners Novella with Last
Chance Christmas!
Read in series OR as a standalone – all Brent wants for Christmas is
his Jojo back, will he get his wish?

A.
Nicky Hjort brings to life a NEW Norn Novella that is EXCLUSIVE to
the set as well! Where
Ebon Sounds Like Ivory
(Norn Novellas Book Two) can be read in series or as a standalone.
During Winter Solstice, a Fate Sister discovers her mother’s grave
empty and, employing an enchanted harp, upsets the balance between
life and death!

From
the talented Aubree Lane, we have a heartwarming tale that will be
EXCLUSIVE to the set this holiday! Sparks are bound to fly when
mistletoe decks the halls of The
Kissing Ball.

And
last, but not least, from Janae Keyes – You get one wish, what do you
wish for? One
Wish: A Christmas wish
will be EXCLUSIVE to the set this year!

Anyone
who knows me could tell you, I am a friendly kind of person, never
met a stranger and take up conversations any where at any time. I
work hard, and my mind never seems to shut down, as I wake up often
in the middle of the night with ideas pouring out and demanding to be
dealt with. Of course that means much of my books were written in the
middle of the night.

I
grew up and still live in the great state of Texas where everything
is bigger, where we have warm weather and a central location. I love
my state, my town, and my family, which includes my four sons, my
significant other, and many friends as well.

I
have thoroughly enjoyed writing the books that are currently
available and hope you will enjoy reading them just as much. And of
course, there will be many more stories to come.

Rebekah
Dodson
is a prolific word weaver of romance, fantasy, and science fiction
novels. Her works include the series Postcards from Paris, The
Surrogate, The Curse of Lanval series, several stand alone novels,
and her upcoming YA novel, Clock City. She has been writing her whole
life, with her first published work of historical fiction with 4H
Clubs of America at the age of 12, and poetry at the age of 16 with
the National Poetry Society. With an extensive academic background
including education, history, psychology and English, she currently
works as a college professor by day and a writer by night.

I
have been writing since I was sixteen years old and love to write
both horror and romantic suspense. I think there have been many
influences within my life that has set me on the path that I can not
help but walk. A few of those names consist of Karen Rose, Lisa
Gardener, Nora Roberts, Cynthia Eden, Catherine Anderson, Laura
Griffin, Andrea Kane, and Lisa Jackson, just to name a few. This list
by no means defines by own writing but they have indeed influenced my
desire to live outside of my own world and to create the thrill of my
dreams. I live on 40 + acres in the SHOW ME state with my six year
old daughter, with the wonderful addition of four dogs and a handful
of chickens. The weather is unpredictable, but the surrounding beauty
of the country helps my creativity as I sit on my top deck with my
laptop and coffee close by.

Kevin
J. Kessler lives in Orlando Florida, where he owns the White
Dragon Podcast Network, which puts out weekly podcasts on a variety
of topics from Walt Disney World, to movies, television, comic books,
video games and more.

A
lifelong geek, Kessler can often be found at the many theme parks and
local attractions in Orlando.

He
developed the story for Rosinanti as a sophomore in high school,
sixteen years before the book’s release.

Since
an early age, Kessler has been an avid reader, often found lost
within the magical worlds found within the pages of fantasy novels.

“It
was always my dream to create such a world of my very own,” he
said. “Even as a kid when my friends would want to play Power
Rangers or X-Men, I would always create a new Ranger or Mutant rather
than portray an established character. There is power in creativity!
Creativity breeds creation!”

L.A.
Remenicky is a wife and mother of two fur kids. A payroll
professional by day, she writes out the stories in her head by night.

An
avid reader all her life, she finally put pen to paper (or fingers to
keyboard) during NaNoWriMo in 2012 and has never looked back. When
she’s not typing away on her latest story with music playing in the
background, she can usually be found spending time with her family
and friends.

A.
Nicky Hjort
is originally from Arlington, Texas- the second of five siblings, all
of whom have strong creative talents. She currently lives in coastal
central California where she practices medicine as an Ob/GYN. In
between being a lovingly devoted mother and delivering babies, she
writes stories that cross multiple genre lines- from Sci Fi to high
fantasy, but all of her stories have thriller and strong romantic
components. And for her clever reader, all of her manuscripts are
subtly connected to each other, with their purpose to explore all
facets of Love and Light. She likes to say that her stories write
themselves, and in the process, often write her, or at least the next
version of her hoping to emerge. A lover of all the arts, A. Nicky
Hjort hopes her stories might inspire you to find your inner creative
genius.

As
for her heroes- they are as varied and eclectic as her choice of
narrative genres, but when pushed to list her favorite influences,
she would say James Patterson, Barbara Kingsolver, Patricia Cornwell,
Dean Koonntz, Gene Roddenberry, Shel Silverstein, Suzanne Collins,
and Walt Disney.

Aubree
Lane
is a true story teller. This award winning author has been writing in
one form or another for most of her life and has loved every
moment.

Aubree
lives in the beautiful foothills of Northern California with her
husband, two wonderful sons, and a super special peek-a-poo named
Tanner. When not managing the pooper-scooper, Aubree can be found at
one of her favorite vacation spots ranging anywhere from Lake Tahoe
to Maui.

Her
motto: Write Until Your Butt Hurts, And Your Eyes Are
Crossed.

Aubree
and her husband enjoy the harvest of their seasonal garden and
relaxing in the paradise they created, called home.

Born
and raised in the California Bay Area, Janae Keyes is an
American mom, wife, and hopeless romantic living in Europe. She loves
to explore various cultures coming together through the magic of
love. Residing in a suburb of Brussels, Belgium, with her husband and
daughter, Janae loves to share her passion for romance with others.